WASHINGTON'S PICKLEBALL LICENSE PLATE
NOW AVAILABLE FROM DOL
Pickleball License Plate: Get Yours Starting in November 2025
Washington’s pickleball license plate is a new opportunity for enthusiasts and supporters of the sport to showcase their passion on the road. This specialty plate became available for purchase in November 2025.
The state sport license plate took three years to work its way through the Washington State legislature, with thousands of people signing the petition and many pickleball players contacting their state legislators in support of the bill.
Now it’s here! Our own pickleball license plate, available for purchase from the Department of Licensing.
Proceeds from DOL State Sport license plate sales support the construction and maintenance of dedicated, public pickleball courts throughout Washington State, with the fund being managed by the Seattle Metro Pickleball Association.
Find everything you need to know about the pickleball State Sport license plate at our license plate website wapbplate.org.
How Do I Get A Plate?
The pickleball license plate will be listed as a special design plate under Sports, State Sport: pickleball on the Department of Licensing website.
The initial cost for plates with the next available number is $157.25 for passenger vehicles and trucks. For personalized special plates, the initial cost is $209.25 for passenger vehicles and trucks.
Base fees for specialty plates can vary depending on the vehicle. We recommend buyers verify the final cost with the DOL. Initial special plate fees do not include tab renewal.
What Does the Cost Include?
The cost of $157.25 for plates with the next available number for passenger vehicles and trucks includes:
- Registration filing fee $4.50
- Original issue plate fee $100
- Plate reflectivity fee $4
- Organization (pickleball) $40
- Department of Licensing service fee $0.50
- License plate technology fee $0.25
- Registration service fee $8
November: A Landmark Month for Pickleball in Washington
November turned out to be a very special month for Washington pickleball players.
Between the License Plate Bash and the state-wide Pickleball License Plate Auction, our community showed up with energy, generosity, and heart — proving once again what makes Washington pickleball so special.
In addition to these two special SMPA events, the pickleball license plate became available for public purchase through the Department of Licensing (DOL). The plate is now accessible to all residents who wish to display their support for the sport and be a part of this growing community.
✔️ Nearly 60 tournament players + 30 open play participants
✔️ Pros and coaches donating their time on court
✔️ A packed, lively crowd with more than 100 attendees throughout the day
✔️ Sponsors, volunteers, and community partners making the event run smoothly
👏 Everyone who came out to play, watch, meet new people, and support the cause
Auction Results
The first-ever auction of Washington pickleball license plates (#PB00002–PB00025) has officially concluded. Together, we raised $7,790 through winning bids and donations.
Check your ticket to see if you won one of twenty Featured Prizes. If you have a winning ticket number, contact us at info@wapbplate.org with your ticket number and address.
View the final bids for all 24 auctioned plates. Plate PB00002 sold for $840. Plate PB00011, a winning score, sold for $520.
Special license plate winners will receive notification from SMPA by email, including information on how to register your plate.
Keep an eye out. These rare plates will be hitting the roads soon!
Your enthusiasm made history. Every bid helped. Thank you for participating.
Why This Matters
By endorsing pickleball, we recognize its growing significance and popularity within our state.
Recent statistics from the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), the APP, and market.us indicate:
- Pickleball has been the fastest growing sport in the U.S. for four years.
- 48 million pickleball players in the U.S. represent a 223.5% growth surge in the past three years.
- The Global Pickleball Market is projected to be worth 4.4 billion by 2033.
To sustain the ongoing growth of pickleball, it is essential to increase the number of courts. While private facilities can help accommodate some of the demand, they are limited in their reach and accessibility.
Public courts play a crucial role in supporting a wide range of players. They provide opportunities for youth, seniors, individuals on fixed incomes, members of the BIPOC community, and anyone wanting to enjoy the experience of playing outdoors in Washington’s beautiful parks.
By expanding public access to pickleball courts, the sport can continue to thrive and remain inclusive for all members of the community.
The Seattle Metro Pickleball Association (SMPA) is actively advocating for the expansion of public pickleball courts. Together, the Bash, raffle, and auction help cover special plate implementation costs and accelerate the funding stream for dedicated pickleball courts throughout Washington.
What’s Next?
SMPA will continue:
- Advocating for more courts across Washington
- Expanding opportunities for players of all ages and levels
- Collaborating with cities and parks departments to pursue new opportunities
- Keeping the community informed as pickleball plate funds grow in the future
And of course, we’ll keep celebrating the people who make this community what it is.
Thank You
Our Commitment
Seattle Metro Pickleball Association is a non-profit dedicated to supporting pickleball for all. Our mission is to build a thriving and welcoming pickleball community, expanding public access for generations to come.
The State Sport license plate: A history
Pickleball became the official state sport in March 2022 when Senate Bill 5615 was signed into law on Bainbridge Island. Soon after, the Seattle Metro Pickleball Association (SMPA) decided our state sport deserved a state license plate.
In 2023, Senator John Lovick and the Seattle Metro Pickleball Association collaborated on Senate Bill 5333, with Senator Lovick serving as the bill’s legislative sponsor and SMPA serving as the non-profit sponsor. SMPA submitted the required documentation and exceeded the 3,500 signatures required by the Department of Licensing. SMPA also held a poll, with the public casting votes for best design.
The official signature launch began in September 2022 at Mariners Pickleball Night. With the help of volunteers and clubs throughout Washington, 3,855 signatures were obtained by December 2022.
In the 2023 legislative session, SB5333 cleared the Senate but did not get a House hearing. The bill was resubmitted without success in 2024.
In 2025, a landmark “omnibus” bill consolidated all special plates into one bill with a companion bill, SSB 5444 and HB 1368.
Thirteen special license plates were approved with a caveat: only those with 3,500 signatures or which were state-sponsored could be produced and sold. Those plates are State Sport: pickleball, Throwback plate, Smokey Bear, Mount St. Helens, Honeybees and Pollinators, LeMay America’s Car Museum, and Keep Washington Evergreen. Find out the availability of these special plates here.
Prior to legislative approval of SSB 5444 in 2025, the state legislature had not passed a specialty license plate bill since Patches Pal in 2022.
Legislative sponsors of the Mount St. Helens license plate made annual attempts to pass their plate since 2019.
Proceeds from DOL license plate sales will be used for the construction and maintenance of dedicated pickleball courts throughout Washington.
Designing the Plate
In 2022, SMPA initiated a creative project by inviting four illustrators to design new license plates. The goal was to produce unique and visually appealing options for the community to consider.
Public Engagement and Voting
Once the illustrators completed their work, eight distinct designs were submitted. To ensure community involvement, SMPA organized a public poll where residents could review and select their favorite design from the submissions.
Who Won the Poll?
The poll results demonstrated strong support for one particular design. With more than fifty percent of the votes, “Pickleball Rising” was chosen as the winner of the contest, highlighting its broad appeal and popularity among voters.
The Winning Design: Pickleball Rising
The winning design for the pickleball State Sport license plate, titled Pickleball Rising, was created by Jason Laramie of Laramie Studio, located in Seattle.
Inspiration Behind the Artwork
Laramie drew inspiration from the ferry ride departing Bainbridge Island, which is known as the birthplace of pickleball. The design captures an eastward view, depicting a pickleball rising like the sun over Washington State, symbolizing both the origins and the growing popularity of the sport.
About the Artist
Jason Laramie is a Board Certified Medical Illustrator with two decades of experience. He is recognized for his expertise in transforming complex information into engaging visuals for both the medical field and jury trials. In addition to his professional work, Laramie enjoys taking on fun projects such as this one. The organization is especially proud that a local artist was responsible for the plate’s creative design.
Copyright Information
The copyright to the pickleball State Sport license plate image is owned by the Seattle Metro Pickleball Association.